NEWTON — Newton girls basketball coach Perry Fletcher describes senior guard McKinley Ware as quiet.

Her play on the basketball court is certainly loud enough.

Twice in the past week, the Lady Tigers have faced double-digit deficits. Last Thursday against Forest, Newton erased a 25-point deficit to win 57-53, and Tuesday against Southeast Lauderdale, the Lady Tigers trailed by as many as 10 points in the third quarter only to come back and win 45-43. In the first game, Ware scored 14 points for Newton, and against Southeast Lauderdale, she scored all 12 of her points in the final period to help lead the team’s comeback effort.

Because of her strong performances, Ware was named The Meridian Star’s Athlete of the Week.

“It feels good,” Ware said of the accolade. “It makes me feel like all my hard work has paid off, and it makes me want to work harder.”

Fletcher said Ware has been a leader for the team not just with her play, but also with her never-say-die attitude, which has helped Newton when the Lady Tigers faced big deficits.

“She’s a great kid, and she’s really intelligent,” Fletcher said. “She has the hardest work ethic on the team. She was big for us this summer with our workouts. She doesn’t say a lot, but she has a lot of fight in her. Her mom and dad did a good job with her as far as that goes.”

Ware is part of a group of seniors that include Nia McCalphia, Alaza Jones, Myja McNichols and Keyshawna Nelson that have been playing together since they were in the pee wee basketball league. The team’s ability to go on late-game runs is a testament to their chemistry, Ware said.

“We never lose hope,” Ware explained. “We always feel like we can come back and accomplish anything we put our minds to. We believe God will get us there.”

At the two guard, Ware is the team’s main shooter, and her scoring abilities are a big help when teams try to play zone defense against the Lady Tigers.

“Our system is set up for our bigs inside,” Fletcher said. “A lot of teams like to play zone to take away drives from our point guard and easy baskets for our big girls, and when they do that, she’s huge, because teams have to play her honest. She’s one of the sparks that makes us special. She’s not the fastest, nor does she jump the highest, but she won’t let us give up. She has a positive attitude, and that pushes the girls.”

That positive attitude is a result in her faith in God, Ware said.

“I pray before every game and ask God to get (my mind) right and that I can show him through how I play, and that we can play together as a team,” Ware said. “After I pray, all the pressure leaves my mind. I get more focused and just play. God takes the stress off me and lets me play basketball.”

It also helps having a group of fellow seniors that have grown up together on the basketball court.

“We do everything together, and we have since we were young,” Ware said. “We work well together, and that makes it fun. We know everything about each other, and we’re all funny. Our personalities just fit well together.”

The Lady Tigers are currently 9-0 on the season, and it’s no secret the team has one goal in mind: winning an MHSAA Class 2A state title.

“Us keeping faith in God,” said Ware, when asked what will help them reach that goal. “We have to keep our minds straight and play as a team and keep our focus.”

Another key ingredient is Fletcher, Ware said. This is only his second year coaching the Lady Tigers, but Ware said he’s made himself feel like family to her and her teammates.

“I would do anything for Coach, he and his wife (Monya Fletcher),” Ware said. “We all would. They’ve been through everything, and I always know they’ll have our backs.”

Newton’s next game is at Wingfield Thursday.